鸡蛋

• Pinyin: jī dàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 鸡 (chicken) + 蛋 (egg) — a chicken's egg

Meaning

Egg; chicken egg. The most common type of egg in Chinese cooking and daily life.

Refers specifically to chicken eggs, the default meaning of 'egg' in Chinese. Other eggs are specified: 鸭蛋 (duck egg), 鹌鹑蛋 (quail egg). Very common in food-related conversation.

Examples

1. 我想吃鸡蛋。 I want to eat eggs.
2. 请买几个鸡蛋。 Please buy some eggs.
3. 早上我吃了两个鸡蛋。 I ate two eggs this morning.

Usage Guide

Context: food, cooking, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你喜欢吃鸡蛋吗？(Do you like eating eggs?)
• 我每天早上吃一个鸡蛋。(I eat one egg every morning.)

Don't Say

• 我要一杯鸡蛋。(Eggs are counted with 个, not served in cups — say 一个鸡蛋)

Origin & History

Compound of 鸡 (chicken) and 蛋 (egg) — literally 'chicken egg.' The word 蛋 alone can also mean egg in general.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal